Introduction John Chard was born December 21st, 1847 in Plymouth England. He was born to a religious family and also one that had a dedication to service. He had two brothers and 4 sisters, his older brother rose to the rank of Colonel while his younger brother was a clergyman. Chard attended parochial school and after attended the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich. He earned his commish via graduation from the Academy and became a 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. He was stationed at Bermuda and Malta to improve the sea defenses until he returned to England in 1876. He was reassigned to the 5th Company Royal Engineers, this is the unit that he was sent to Africa with. He was the co-commanding officer at Rorke’s Drift where he earned
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When Chard was a lieutenant he was stationed at a Christian mission in Africa. His job was to construct a bridge across the Buffalo River. While they were on post on December 2nd 1878 the Zulu tribes ambushed a massive British force and wiped them out at Isandlwana. To continue their victorious assault 3000 to 4000 Zulu warriors descended on the mission. At the beginning of the whole operation the British forces had about 350 men, once the Zulu army was sighted their numbers dropped to 140 soldiers, including many wounded. Chard was unfazed by the insurmountable odds and ordered his men to construct a sand bag perimeter to aid them in their defense. If he had panicked like most soldiers would have the moral of his men would have been very low. Constant waves of Zulus peppered the British ranks. The British held their ground, but retreated to a redoubt position that Chard had the men construct. The position had men elevated behind sand bags and soldiers standing and kneeling in three ranks. They alternated volleys to keep a sustained rate of fire on the Zulus. This final stand broke the Zulu moral and forced them to retreat. Chard showed great bravery in obeying his orders and defending his post till the last man. In all ways they should have retreated but Chard organized his men and used what little things he was given to repel the Zulu
When Chard was a lieutenant he was stationed at a Christian mission in Africa. His job was to construct a bridge across the Buffalo River. While they were on post on December 2nd 1878 the Zulu tribes ambushed a massive British force and wiped them out at Isandlwana. To continue their victorious assault 3000 to 4000 Zulu warriors descended on the mission. At the beginning of the whole operation the British forces had about 350 men, once the Zulu army was sighted their numbers dropped to 140 soldiers, including many wounded. Chard was unfazed by the insurmountable odds and ordered his men to construct a sand bag perimeter to aid them in their defense. If he had panicked like most soldiers would have the moral of his men would have been very low. Constant waves of Zulus peppered the British ranks. The British held their ground, but retreated to a redoubt position that Chard had the men construct. The position had men elevated behind sand bags and soldiers standing and kneeling in three ranks. They alternated volleys to keep a sustained rate of fire on the Zulus. This final stand broke the Zulu moral and forced them to retreat. Chard showed great bravery in obeying his orders and defending his post till the last man. In all ways they should have retreated but Chard organized his men and used what little things he was given to repel the Zulu